Shifting device for prong binders



Feb. 2, 1932. v E. G.-DUPREE SHIFTING DEVICE FOR PRONG BINDERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed D90. 4, 1930 a E my R h mww N fi E W 2 ma D, E M

Feb. 2, 1932. E. G. DUPREE 1,843,810

SHIFTING DEVICE FOR PRONG BINDERS Filed Dec. 4, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -oo 000 cap 4 A6 INVENTOR EDMOND G. DUP REE Patented Feb. 2," 1932 qiururao STA COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION NEW YORK snrs'rrne nnvIcE non rnone :BInnERs Application filed pecember 4, 1930. Serial No. 500,093.

This invention relates to devices for shifting loose leaves in prong binders in cases where the leaves are of less height than the height of the binder, and are, filed in the binder .in overlapping relation with an edge of each sheet visible.

- An object of the invention .is to provide an improved shifter which ,is, convenient to operate and economical to manufacture.

Another object is toprovide a shifter which is separate fromthe binder-andcan be used in the ordinary commercial binder. V

v In the drawings, c 1

Figure-1 is a partial end view' of a "prong binder closed andwith the leaves partlyin' section. Figure 2 is an end view of the prong binder open showing the improved shifting device in solid lines in one'position, and in dotted lines inanother positionin the binder.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the.shif.t ingdevicer a Figure 4 is a partial plan view of a prong binder open and showing the shifting device in operation. The shiftingdevice is shown with the handle partly broken away.

In the drawlngs the binder w h'which the shifter'is shown contains the usual prongs 10 and 11 having taperedffree' ends, supported by back elements 12 and 13 respectively.

Sheets or leaves 14 are threaded upon the prongs in overlapping relation with a margin of each visible as shown in Fig. 4. Near a margin of each sheet are a plurality of perforations 15, all equally spaced from center to center. The prongs are spaced apart by multiples ofthe distance between perforations. The improved shifting device 16 is freeor detached from the binder, and is free to slide along the entire length of the back element 13. 7 When the binder is open the lower edge of the shifter is adapted to rest against a stop provided on one of the back members. .As illustrated this stop consists of an. angle formed by a wall 17'extending longitudinally along the back member 13: and protruding approximately at right-angles to that part of the back member which carries the prongs. Other forms "of stops could be used.

. The shifting device comprises a plate 18 having a plurality ,of perforations 19 arranged longitudinally, or horizontally thereof, a plurality of perpendicularly projecting pins 20- arranged in a row longitudinally thereof and spaced transversely from the perforations, and a rearwardly projecting flange 21, which'forms a convenient handle at the top of the shifter. In the drawings the pins are shown as located vertically above certain of the perforations.

The perforations 19 are preferably spaced apart by a distance equal to that between the perforations 15 of the sheets. Each perforation 19 islarge enough to receive thetapered,

NT OFFICE nnMoNn G. DUPREE, or nrcnivronn Hint, NEW YORK, ,As'srenon '10 Boomnvr & PEASE end of a prong but not large enough toadmit the rest of the prong. V V

, The pins'20 are shorter than the prongs and have their'ends recessed'to receive the tips of the prongs. The pins'are spaced apart by a distance equal to the distance between perforations 15 in the sheets, or multiples thereof, the smallest distance between two pins being equal to the distance between two perforations, and the greatest being equal to the distance between two prongs 10 on one side of the binder. Various numbers and spacings of thepins may be used. v

The perforations 19 are spaced from the bottom of the shifting device a suitable distance so thatwhen the binder is open and the bottom edge of the device rests in the angle between the wall 17 and the adjacent 1 side of one of the back elements, the tips of the prongs 11 on the same back element, can lie in the perforationslt), as shown in solid linesin Fig. 2. The pins 20 are of suitable length and are suitably spaced with relation to perforations 19,.so thatwhen the shifter is swung fromthe position just described toward the other back element, it will leave the prongs 11 and the tips of the prongs 10011 the other back element will nest in or,

register'withthe ends of-pins 20, as shown in dotted lines at 20a in Fig. 2. If a stop is provided in a different location from that illustrated, the relative location of the pins and perforations may be varied to secure the register of the pins with the prongs on one side of the binder, and the register of the Forexample, if it is. desired to shift sheet 14a keeping the same relation between it and. the sheets 14?), (see Figs. 2 and l) the binder" is opened leaving all thesheets on prongs,

10 on the right side. The shifter is inserted with its bottom edge restingr-aga-insttlre stop, and is slid along longitudinally of the binder unti'l'two or'nioreof the-pinsQOare opposite prongs 10 upon which sheet leaisthreaded' and certain of r the pins QOare also opposite prongs 10upon' whiolrslreets 14b are-threaded; The shifter is then placed in,

the pos'ition shown in dotted lines in Fig: 2', withlthe tipsof-prongs 10 lyinginthe ends of pins'i20a-.- Sheet 1400 and all-the-sheets 14b are-now-"transferred to pins 20' or QO'a; the shifter is swung free of the-pron-gs 10 and. is slid longitudinally along the. back element 13 until the pins =20-bearing the sheets 14a and '14-?) are opposite the-pr0n gs1O to' wh-i-ch' it 'is desired to transfer those sheets The: shifter is again swung to-wardpro-ngs '10,

until the tips of prongs 10-to which the sheets are to be transferred nest in tl een'ds ofth'epins 20 which carrythe sheets,and the sheets are transferred-to the prongs 10- in the new location, reverslng the dlrectlonof the: arrow in-Fig; 2.

If while shifting the sheets -itis -for" any reason desired to leave-them temporarily upon the shifter; the-shl-ft'er'can be swung-to the position shown iniu-11 1inesin1 i 2, with the tips ofpron-gs 11 registering with the'perforations 19; The shifter will-remain temporarily either in this position or the position" shown in' dotted lines in- '2, without being held by theoperato-r.

When the transferring ofsheets from oneposition to another has been completed; theshifter may be removed and the binder closed;

I claim:

1. A shifter' forloose-leaf prong binder, comprising a plate-having a. longitudinal series of perforations and apluralityof' pins attached to theplate and spaced transversely from theseries of perforations:

2; A shifter for loose leaf prong binder, comprising a plate havingalongitudinal series of perforations, a plurality of pins attached tothe plate and spaced transversely; from the series of perforationsand a flange alongthetop edge of sa-i-d plate, forming a' handle.

3: A loose-leaf prongbinder having a pair of back elements each bearing-- prongs and one of 'said back elements having a stop in combination With a detached shifter adapted to rest against said stop and being adapted to slide longitudinally the length of the back element.

4. A loose leaf prong binder having a pair of backelementseach bearing" prongs and one of said'baek elements having-astop, in combination with a detached shifter adapted to rest against said stop, said shifter comprising; a, plateshaving a longitudinal" series" of'perforatio'ns to register with the prongs on one-baclnelement, and a plurality of pins carried by said plate and spaced transversely fronrthe series;ofperforations.

5. A looseleaf prong binder having a pair-of baekelements'eacll b'earing: fprongs and one of -said bacle elementshavingsaistop, in combination 'Witha detaehed i shifter adapted to rest; against said sto-p, said shift er room-prising a plate having :series oftlon gitudinal perforations to receive :thec tips of' prongs on one baek 1 element, said; perforati'ons being too small-to admit :the-rest :of'said prongs-, and a plurality: of: pinsnh'avingsre cessed' ends carried by said plate and adapted.

to receivethe tips of :the prongsionttheother.

back elementa I v 6. A shifter for use in aprongbi-nder havin-gsheets-with perforations along one margin in combination with; a .pair; ofaback elements each bearing prongs spaced apart by. minitiples of the distance between said; perforations, said shifter comprising a: plate having alongitudinal series: rof perforations.- to register withs prongson one backaelement-iof the: binder and: apluralitywof pin-s attached to the plate to register with prongsz-on' the other backelementmf th'etbinder;

7. .A shiftersforluse in a prong binder'havv ingsheets witlrperforations alongione margin in COHlblIliLtlOIhaWltll a-pair'sof back elements each bearingp-ron-gsspaeed apart bym-ultiples of the: distance between" said perforations, said: shifter: comprising-1 a plate: having; a longitudinal series of,perforationstoregister with; prongs on one-back elementi of the]; binder; and a plurality iofzpi ns attachedto the plate to register 'with-wprongson theeother back element of the; binder,.theaperforations in the shifter being spaced apartrby distances equal to the-distance between perforations in the sheets; and thevpins bei-ngi spaced. apart by the same distance or by multiples Olliqtllll same-.- v

8'. wA shifter foraise in a prongfbinder hav ingsheets.witlrperforations a-longoneimargin in combination with :a pair of :b'ackaelements each bearing; prongs *sp-aced apart byv mu hv tiples aof theedistance between said aperfor-as tions, said shifter :compnising; a: plate having a. longitudinal iseriesofiperforations to;-rege ister 'withprongseon; 1011B back element of i the binder and 'plurality; of 5 pins attached to the plates-to registerwith prongs oritheeother back element :of the '=binder;'.the perforations in the. shifter being spaced apart by distances equal to the distance between perfora tions in the sheets, and the pins being spaced apart by the same distance or by multiples of the same and the greatest distance between two pins being equal to the distance between successive prongs on one back element of the binder. I v

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. 1

EDMOND G. DUPREE 

